The Noble Pig on Victoria St. is one of a few restaurants in Kamloops that have decided to temporarily close due to COVID-19 concerns (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

COVID-19

Some restaurants in Kamloops closing as COVID-19 outbreak keeps people away

Mar 18, 2020 | 5:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures put in place by the provincial government to ban gatherings of more than 50 people, are hitting Kamloops restaurants hard.

Many have seen their customer bases plummet as people avoid public spaces as much as they can. There are some restaurants struggling to keep their doors open during the current downturn in business, while others have closed their doors altogether.

The Noble Pig and Forno on Fifth are two restaurants that have decided to close temporarily amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It is incredibly challenging. We are a small business, and there are many small businesses that are doing this. Forno is brand new, we’re just over a year old, and in this particular moment the anxiety and stress I’m feeling… Crazy,” said Summers.

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Summers, a partner in the Noble Pig, says she feels for the more than 100 employees between the two locations. But she notes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s $82 billion announcement on Wednesday (Mar. 18) to help small businesses could be beneficial during the shutdown.

“Any type of help that prolongs the ability for us to keep our team employed allows us to better be able to launch when we get through this. This is just going to be a blip in time,” she said.

Bright Eye Brewing has also closed, but it’s working on allowing online orders for people still wanting food and beer.

“We’re setting up our website to accomodate that,” said partner of Bright Eye Brewing Richard Marken. “We’ve got a limited menu of items that will be amazing when you get home, and beer, growlers. We’re currently looking at doing items like investing in a small canning line that we’ll have here ready to roll by the end of the week.”

Other restaurants in Kamloops like Mittz Kitchen have decided to remain open, but are limiting seating. They’ve set up 10 tables to ensure appropriate social distancing.

“Just leave a space in between each table. No big groups. We haven’t had much of a problem yet anyway. It’s been pretty slow,” said part owner Steve Mitton.

Mittz is down 80 per cent and have laid off most of its staff since the impact of the outbreak accelerated last Thursday.

“We’re just trying to hang in there and find out what kind of support there will be after for us and for our staff,” Mitton noted.

Meantime, the Noble Pig is preparing meals for its staff and non-profits in need to salvage the thousands of dollars worth of food it has. Now the restaurant will wait and see when it can re-open.

The Noble Pig anticipates at least a three-week shutdown. But with new cases emerging every day in B.C., it’s really anyone’s guess as to when restaurants could re-open.